Reader comments
Utah ranks 9th in U.S. in foreclosures
47 comments | Read story
A number of our neighbors (AZ, NV, CA) began purging their markets of homes that people purchased, but could never afford a couple of years ago. The much needed correction is finally starting to pick up some steam here.
This is great news in that afforability is slowly being introduced into the housing market again in Utah. However, it has a long way to go. The number of delusional home sellers is still extremely high. A majority still can't come to grips with the fact that their home isn't and was never actually worth what they thought it was worth and still think it is worth.
Foreclosure's will also translate into greater stability in housing and the financials in the long-run as well. They system needs to purge itself and prices still need to drop dramatically. This trend will continue for some time. All hail the market correction. Onward and upward.
Foreclosers in Utah?
9th in the nation?
Can't be.
Things like this just don't happen in Pleasantville.
Must be more lies the liberals made up.
Why?
Cuz this is the place!
Liberals are lying agin'!
I find it funny that so many people put themselves in that position out of greed and ego.
It's sad how few people listen to their church leader's advice when they want a bigger house than their neighbors.
What happened is when the economic downturn affected this family, (they are self-employed) they could not longer to afford to live in their house. A home equity loan is also part of the problem and I'm concerned now they won't be able to get the money out of it they need to live on.
I'm very sad to see this happening to them, but there is a lesson here.
Live below your means, if possible! Things happen so don't always be on the edge. Don't buy into the advertising hype that you have to have the best and the newest.
Speculation in the housing market, irresponsible loans by uncrupulous lenders have added to the problem.
When will we learn in this country that you can't expect to get (or keep) "something for nothing?"
Utah needs a correction, just like everyone else. We started this mess with below national average priced homes. I imagine we will end up there as well.
Geniuses.
Commercial construction is still happening, but residential is a problem.
And to those claimm the mormons giving 10% of there income to tithing is causing the problem you should go to Harvard as well, because the claim has no basis in fact, and makes you look the fool to any reasonable person. All religons tith at 10%!
And for someone who actually lives in Phoenix and owns homes in Utah, You people in Utah have not seen anything even close to what has happened in the Arizona real estate markets.
It's a well-known fact that conservatives have a thing for money and power. They worship them both.
God/Money, Money/God. To conservatives the two are unseparable.
I'm not suprised that Utah ranks so high on foreclosures. Keeping up with the Jones' is paramount with conservatives.
Oh, well. You reap what you sow.
Just looking at the 17,000% increase shows some faults in this report.
All I know is prices in my neighborhood have only dropped slightly. One house out of the 60 in our neighborhood is in foreclosure. The price on it still isn't dropping.
I guess what I am trying to say is that you don't NEED a big house, 3 cars, snowmobiles, 4wheelers, etc. Despite the fact that materialsm should be minimal in a state like Utah, it is surprisingly high on people's priority list.
The fact of the matter is I am smart and responsible, I held off on buying in late 06 early 07 because I treated the purchase of a home as soemthing more important than that of an appliance purchase. I looked at the historical housing related numbers, read articles from non-Realtors/home builders to get an idea as to the real housing situation and decided that I would continue to save and wait for the correction. It hasnt been fun while all my coworkers went off and bought homes... I was the "dumb guy that kept on renting"... well the tables have turned and all my coworkers that bought are stuck in their homes for a LONG time (upside down big time) while I am going to be able to put down 20% down (avoid PMI) and will get a steal.
I still cant believe how dumb potential buyers were, I think a lot of people are going to question Realtors advice (buy now or be priced out forever)
The problem is the house was worth less than $90,000 6-7 years ago. It isn't just the people who have been trying to keep up with the neighbors that are having trouble...
It is the economy (gas prices which increase costs; heating, food and clothes etc. and decrease wages)on top of it all.
The homes have been vacant (never lived in) or rented. The landscaping is not even started or has been neglected to ruin.
The prices are dropping but the ones looking are also not able to really afford the homes.
Our power bill was over $400 for last month with the A/C set at 75-78 degrees.
However, in our story the big old rooster President Bush and the Congress are going to make the rest of us pay for those that were caught up in this easy money cycle. If they don't take it from us in taxes it will be taken from those that have saved by inflation the worst form of tax. As in the story of the Little Red Hen, there is no free lunch, even though the developers and realtors make it appear so.
People struggle financially no matter what their beliefs are. Utah, like many other states, had huge increases in home values; in fact, Utah had some of the largest increases. Now homes are less affordable than they were. Also, when home values go up, so do property taxes. There are many reasons for home foreclosures. Lumping everyone together just shows prejudice. People in Utah also have larger families, on average, so they have higher expenses related to that. Yes, we need to live within our means but sometimes things happen.
I agree whole-heartedly that sometimes "things happen", despite our best efforts to live within our means. "Things" have happened in my life from time to time. When they do happen, I get rid of luxuries, I stop eating out, buying ready made meals, going to movies etc.
Having lived in Africa for 36 years, I am amazed at how many people in the USA complain about their "lot" in life, when the poorest I have seen here would make the majority in Africa green with envy. Just to put things into perspective. Here is a list of everyday things in the USA that are luxuries in Africa.
1. Clean running water
2. Electricity
3. Medical treatment
4. Good Education
5. Dishwashers
6. Tumble dryers
7. Cars
8. Warm houses
9. Security
10. Toilets that work/flush
11. Enough food
12. Aircon in homes (if they have a home)
13. etc.
The list could go on. I am not saying that we here in the USA must do without these things that make even the average income person's life easier, just that we must realise that so many others are far worse of than we are.
The RealtyTrac report shows the number of homes that have one of three actions as a "filing." These include Notice of Default that are sometimes resolved prior to forclosure, Notice of Trustee Sale, and REO properties that have been repurchased by the bank following forclosure. The statistics therefore are overstated as a home may appear in the numbers more than once.
The report does not distiguish between owner occupied homes and developers and contractor who have had to turn properties back to the bank. My experience driving around the Wasatch front would indicate many homes with "filings" were not owner occupied.
I recognize the trends are disturbing, but some fear-mongers would have us overemphasize the natural consequences of overbuilding.
After all 99.8% of homes in Utah had no forclosure filings in July.
Willard, Utah 84340
Add your comment
Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.
E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.
- Holiday television program listings 1:02 a.m.
- Williams, Rose celebrate by playing 12:46 a.m.
- Utes to get tested by Illinois 12:40 a.m.
- Cougs to host Weber St. 12:39 a.m.
- Efforts to save a life praised 12:29 a.m.
- Settle fights, set tone of marriage 12:28 a.m.
- Clearfield balking at UTA plan 12:26 a.m.
- New administration bldg for Davis 12:26 a.m.
- Gallery: Thanksgiving in Utah 12:14 a.m.
- National news briefs 12:12 a.m.
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Rivalry has had some 'turkeys'
- Holiday television program listings
- Highland players make special friend
- Cave rescuers committed to free man
- Temple Square to use LEDs
- Salt Lake City woman shot
- Matt Reynolds vs. Koa Misi
- Missions teach players perseverance
- Provo star leads Bulldogs to win
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
262 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
211 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
202 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
139 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - BYU records with win
133 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
132 - Boys basketball rankings
117 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
112 - Hall, Johnson matchup key
102
We're flooded with wise shopping tips this year, including these from...
Can someone please tell me which top 10 team Max has won? I hope the Jeff...
The old recipie for good economy is to just cut taxes to spur investment and...
Respect? Why show respect for another human being who's opinions and...
The problem is, Sarah Palin ist not a competent politician. She begs to be...
Please do tell which of his facts were stupid? Your best ever got smocked at...
Honestly. Kyle cannot be moved with the contract. I would rather see CJ<...
So many conclusions, based on false assumptions, so many haters, with...
If Carlos continues to play like this instead of hearing "boo" at ESA, maybe...
With all that tradition they can't seem to compete on the national stage....
Hint: You notice (like I predicted) no mention of any Jazz interest in...


It is sad when someone loses their home, but not so sad when the home they're losing was more home than they should have purchased in the first place. Live within your means, pay off your debts, and listen to the warning you receive. If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.